Thanks to our friends at Clear Men Scalp Therapy, HoopsVibe had a spot reserved at the pre-ESPY BODY Party, Red Carpet Walk access prior to the show, a ticket to the ESPYs and ticket to the Post Party.

As @mr_jasonjones noted, Tyreke Evans' agent, Arn Tellem, made a rare appearance tonight to express his concerns about the former Rookie of the Year's role. He met with Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, Evans' brother, Reggie, and another Tellem rep as well. Source close to Evans says he's frustrated with how marginalized he's become. Evans' reps are encouraging him to be more vocal about his perspective going forward. No extension discussions (he's eligible this summer), FWIW.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Lost in the arena chatter is the fact that Tyreke Evans is clearly miffed with the Sacramento Kings.

Evans, who posted impressive numbers in his first season with the Kings and was named co-Rookie of the Year, is a specimen at 6-5, 220 pounds.

While physically mature, the pre-to-pro star lacks a feel for the game that often alienates those around him like former coach Paul Westphal and teammate DeMarcus Cousins.

The hope was that Evans would eventually develop, for lack of a better term, a basketball IQ to match his frame, wingspan, and strength. Well, it hasn’t happened. Here’s the question: will it ever happen in Sacramento?

The answer will come this summer when the Kings and Evans start negotiating a long-term pact. The Kings would probably like to keep Evans, but don’t want to pay him anything near the maximum. While Evans, and those around him, will likely demand the maximum.

The difference between the team and Evans’ position will reveal much about the future. Of course, the Maloof family, who own the Kings, are heavily in debt and may not be able to swing a fair extension -even if they decided to keep Evans.

A trade is possible. Evans was nearly sent to the Golden State Warriors in mid-March, but the club preferred to go big and sent Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut.

Bottom line: Evans has talent. Will Sacramento figure out how to use it, though?

He viewed the no-call as a continuation of the preferential treatment that Griffin has received from the NBA during his two seasons. ‘He’s babied,’ Cousins said. ‘He’s the poster child of the league. He sells tickets, but he’s babied. Bottom line.’ Babied by whom, Cousins was asked. ‘The refs, the league — period,’ he continued.

Right or wrong, fair or not, David Stern’s league has always protected their superstars, nudging referees to give the benefit of the doubt to top players.

More often than not, Magic Johnson got the whistle. Same with Michael Jordan during the eighties and nineties. And conspiracy theorists would argue the Los Angeles Lakers often had the zebras on their side.

So Sacramento Kings' post DeMarcus Cousins can’t be shocked, surprised, or upset that Los Angeles Clippers superstar Blake Griffin, the new face of the league, gets protection from the referees. In a way, Cousins benefits from this, too. After all, Griffin playing well improves fan interest, which increases revenues and drives salaries.

Of course, Cousins is competing against Griffin and is understandably frustrated. Sadly, there’s nothing he can do about it -as Blake-Zilla will continue getting favourable treatment from referees.

Theus’ 38 win season in his only full year as coach in 2007-08 is the highest win total for the Kings since 44 wins during the 05-06 season, which was also the last season the team made the playoffs. In three full seasons since, the Kings have won a total of 66 games- ouch.

"We leave that stuff (the benching) to the basketball people," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said before tipoff, "but we're not trading him." They might have considered picking up the phone, though, and placing a pre-emptive courtesy call to Cousins' agent, John Greig. That would have been prudent and mature and pre-emptive, and a clear indication that, amid the stormy season's start, cooler heads indeed will prevail.

"We leave that stuff (the benching) to the basketball people," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said before tipoff, "but we're not trading him." They might have considered picking up the phone, though, and placing a pre-emptive courtesy call to Cousins' agent, John Greig. That would have been prudent and mature and pre-emptive, and a clear indication that, amid the stormy season's start, cooler heads indeed will prevail.

"We leave that stuff (the benching) to the basketball people," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said before tipoff, "but we're not trading him." They might have considered picking up the phone, though, and placing a pre-emptive courtesy call to Cousins' agent, John Greig. That would have been prudent and mature and pre-emptive, and a clear indication that, amid the stormy season's start, cooler heads indeed will prevail.

“He can only have so many chances and something has to be done. And it’s time something has to be done.” Westphal is not sure if Cousins will travel with the team on their two game road trip that begins on Tuesday in Memphis. He did say that Cousins needed to do some “soul searching” and that he hopes that, “DeMarcus has a change of heart and joins up with full reinstatement, that’s really up to him and I hope that.”

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: There are conflicting reports on whether DeMarcus Cousins demanded a trade.

However, there’s little doubt the young big does not fit with the Sacramento Kings. Cousins, who is not with the team, has a longstanding feud with coach Paul Westphal and doesn’t gel with guard Tyreke Evans.

Last year, he was suspended, reprimanded, and told by management to change. And the second year post supposedly came into the season in better spirits.

Until this.

Unfortunately, GM Geoff Petrie is in a bind. Teams will lowball the Kings with trade offers, knowing they want to move Cousins and minimize the distraction.

Of course, Cousins is young, skilled, and was taken with a high lottery pick, so the Kings have much invested in him and will want something back.

Like Green, most have negotiated opt-out clauses that would free them to honor existing NBA contracts, or to sign a new one, once the labor impasse is over. “Pretty soon, the whole NBA might be in Europe,” said Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins, who says he’s examining overseas options as well.LinkHoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: DeMarcus Cousins is wrong.
The whole NBA will not cross the Atlantic Ocean for big money in Europe. Most NBA players won’t find work abroad if there isn’t a new collective bargaining agreement.
Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain are broke. They have little money, so owners will struggle to pay anything near NBA wages.
Suppose owners could afford to dole out millions for an American player. Would they want to?
After all, the European game is different. Teams and systems are far more important than individuals and statistics.Many American players can't adjust.
And European coaches wouldn’t want a roster of half-committed Yankees’, who were bidding their time until they could return to America.
Cousins and the players shouldn't overplay their hand.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Southern California could form the trinity of NBA basketball: Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Anaheim Kings. I prefer Anaheim Royals since the Kings have been already taken by some hockey team in Los Angeles. The Maloofs can name the team “Anaheim Surfers” if they want. That would be all forms of awesome. Their uniforms would be made out of hemp promoted by Disney. What’s not to love? Black players with blond hair and white players with long blond hair unite. I’d pay to see that.

Sacramento Kings rookie DeMarcus Cousins got into an altercation with teammate Donte Greene after Cousins didn't get the ball on the final possession of a 99-97 loss to Oklahoma City Saturday night, two league sources said, with one source adding that Cousins was not allowed to join the team for its flight to Phoenix for a game Sunday night.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: If you haven’t figured it out, something is wrong with the Sacramento Kings.

Very wrong.

It’s bigger than who takes the last shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s bigger than coach against player. It’s bigger than two blue-chip talents losing their cool after a tough defeat.

The Kings are in a power struggle: Tyreke Evans versus DeMarcus Cousins. Last year’s Rookie of the Year against the temperamental but talented fifth overall pick from the 2010 draft.

Evans is used to having carte blanche or total freedom with the Kings’ offensive sets, while Cousins, who has played well of late, has recently been voicing his displeasure with this arrangement.

Take last night’s loss to the Thunder. Cousins wanted the ball for the final shot. He was unhappy with teammate Donte Greene for passing directly to Evans, who missed a game-winning three-pointer.

Cousins let Greene know how he felt after the play on-court and in the locker room before post-game interviews. Cooler heads did not prevail on the team plane, where an altercation between Cousins and Greene took place.

For now, Cousins has been removed from the team. It remains to be seen if this is a short or long-term punishment.

Here’s what we know: something is off with the Kings. Perhaps it’s the team’s young stars. Perhaps it’s Coach Paul Westphal. Perhaps it’s the team’s uncertain future in Sacramento. Perhaps it’s all three.

However, it’s time for veteran executive Geoff Petrie to take control. Enough is enough. If Westphal must go, so be it. If Cousins must go, so be it.

Things are far trickier with Evans. Yes, he’s a potential superstar, but his play has been mixed in 2011 and he has made poor choices on-and-off court.

Giving up on the 20-year old swing could be a colossal blunder. Given the right situation, he could blossom into an elite, crème de la crème type player.

In Sacramento, Evans is part of the problem. Not the solution. Right now, Petrie needs solutions –even if there’s not an easy one to be had.

Westphal said he didn't see what Cousins did until watching the replay of the game. He said he announced the fine only because Cousins' action happened publicly.

"It's unprofessional, childish, embarrassing, and it won't be tolerated," the coach said. When asked if Cousins got that message, Westphal left that open for debate. "He's been told that," Westphal said. "I don't know what he understands."

LinkHoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: What was the worst thing you did at 19?

You don’t have to admit what you did; however, you and I know it was worse than making a choke sign at another player during an NBA game.

Well, that was DeMarcus Cousins’ crime.

The Sacramento Kings’ teenage power forward made a choking gesture at the Golden State Warriors’ Reggie Williams after he missed the first of two free throws.

(The crime.)

Sure, Cousins was wrong. And sure, he deserves to be punished.

However, Coach Paul Westphal declared jihad, bashing him to reporters, fining him, and removing him from the starting line-up.

Worst of all, instead of making choke-gate a ‘teachable’ moment, Westphal publicly embarrassed Cousins and implied he wasn’t a good person.

Would Westphal have reacted the same way if, say, Hall of Fame post Kevin Garnett made a choking gesture?

Would Westphal have reacted the same way towards Cousins if the Kings won the game, weren’t sitting at 5-21, and his job wasn’t on the line?

Westphal’s reaction says as much about him as the choke gesture does about Cousins. There’s a difference, though. Westphal is an adult, Cousins is a kid.

It’s Westphal’s job to teach, groom, and mentor Cousins, as well as criticize him. Instead the Kings have Sam Dalembert preaching professionalism to Cousins.

Oh, the irony. Dalembert, of course, quit the Canadian national in the middle of the Olympic qualifying tournament, routinely showed up late for practice with the Philadelphia 76ers, and is often referred to by league sources as a cancer.

This is the state of the Kings. And Cousins’ behaviour is a reflection of their failures as an organization.

Hopefully, executive Geoff Petrie is taking note. Hopefully, the Maloof brothers, who own the team, are taking note.

It’s time for change in Sacramento. And we`re not talking about removing Cousins from the starting line-up.

Reke Havoc is the talk of the organization. He should be. Tyreke was one of four players (MJ, Oscar, and LeBron) to average 20-5-5 in their rookie campaigns. The Kings were dead last in the Pacific Division going 5-11 and 16-36 against the Western Conference. Their overall record was 25-57 in 2009-2010 making them the second worst team in the Wild West. That doesn’t inspire any confidence, but Reke is fun to watch, right?